Transceiver Apparatus and Method Having Ethernet-Over-Power and Power-Over-Ethernet Capability

ABSTRACT

A transceiver device for coupling between a power line and a network interface unit includes a power line modem for transmitting and receiving data between the power line and the network interface unit and a power circuit coupled to the power line modem that is adapted to deliver a DC power signal to the network interface unit. The power circuit includes a discovery circuit adapted to determine the type of network interface unit that is attached. A load path control circuit switches the DC power signal between a PHY interface and a connector interface of the power line modem based on the determined type.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/871,361, filed Jun. 18, 2004. The entire teachings of the aboveapplication are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As usage of the Internet expands, more and more people are purchasingmultiple Personal Computers (PCs) for use by family members in the home.These multiple PCs can be “networked” together in the home to share andaccess common resources such as printers, files and Internet access(e.g., xDSL and cable modems). One well-known technology which hasassisted in fueling the growth of networking is deployment of Local AreaNetworks (LAN) based on Ethernet (covered under several standardsreferred to generally as IEEE 802.3x), which has become the “default”LAN infrastructure standard.

At present, there are several types of the existing ubiquitous Ethernettechnology that may be used in certain home networking applications,with each having its own standard to assure interoperability amongvarious equipment vendors. A. first type is the Power LineCommunications (PLC) application that utilizes so-called Ethernet overPower (EoP) under the HomePlug standard, which allows the standard 10Mbps Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) and 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet (IEEE 802.3u) tobe deployed over the “common” home power line wiringdistribution/infrastructure. The “HomePlug Powerline Alliance”(www.homeplug.org) coordinates interoperability among the variousvendors of HomePlug compatible transceiver devices. A second type is theso-called Power over Ethernet (PoE) under the IEEE 802.3af standard,which allows DC power to be carried over the standard 10 Mbps Ethernet(IEEE 802.3) and 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet (IEEE802.3u) wirings. Theunderlying objective of PoE is to allow networking ready ancillaryequipments/components the ease of having only “one” connectivity thatcombines the data and powering (less than 15 watts). The 802.3afstandard provides for single cabling with a low voltage data line(Category 5, 5E, or higher grade) installation, and a nominal DC voltageof 48 volts (−10%, +20%) at 15.4 watts maximum continuous load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The two types of existing Ethernet technology applications, based on EoPand PoE, each have their own standard which assures interoperabilityamong various equipment vendors. However, such interoperability islimited to the devices of the separate and independent standards. Thereis a need for a capability that effectively combines the power linenetworking of the EoP approach with the streamlined connectivity of thePoE approach.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, atransceiver device for coupling between a power line and a networkinterface unit includes a power line modem for transmitting andreceiving data between the power line and the network interface unit anda power circuit that is adapted to deliver a DC power signal to thenetwork interface unit.

According to one aspect, the power line modem may include a connectorinterface for coupling to the network interface unit, with the powercircuit being coupled to the connector interface. The connectorinterface may be an RJ-45 connector with the DC power signal coupled tonon-data pins of the RJ-45 connector.

According to another aspect, the power line modem may include a PHYinterface that communicates with the connector interface, wherein thepower circuit is coupled to the PHY interface. The PHY interface mayinclude a transmit data transformer that communicates transmit data withtransmit data pins of the connector interface and a receive datatransformer that communicates receive data with receive data pins of theconnector interface, One leg of the DC power signal may be coupled to acenter tap of the transmit transformer and another leg of the DC powersignal may be coupled to a center tap of the receive transformer toprovide a phantom DC circuit over the transmit and receive data pins.

According to another aspect, the power circuit may be coupled to boththe PHY interface and to the connector interface. The power circuit mayinclude a primary DC power supply providing a 48 VDC supply signal, adiscovery circuit and a load path control circuit. The discovery circuitmay be coupled across the center tap of the transmit transformer and thecenter tap of the receive transformer of the PHY interface and beadapted to determine a type of network interface unit that is attached.The load path control circuit may be adapted to switch the 48 VDC supplysignal to provide the DC power signal either to the PHY interface or tothe connector interface based on the determined type.

According to yet another aspect, the power circuit may further include acurrent loading sensing switch that is coupled between the DC powersupply and the load path control circuit. A power overloading sensorlogic circuit may be adapted to monitor power load through the load pathcontrol circuit to disable the current loading sensing switch upondetecting a power overload.

In other embodiments, an adjustable DC output circuit may be coupledbetween the load path control circuit and the connector interface with aselectable switch for selecting a DC output voltage for power deliveryto the connector interface. A DC outlet may be coupled to the output ofthe adjustable DC output circuit for coupling to the network interfaceunit without connecting through the connector interface of the powerline modem.

According to another aspect, the device may include an enclosure thatencloses the power line modem and the power circuit. in an embodiment,the enclosure may include a top surface, a bottom surface, and at leasttwo side surfaces, the bottom surface having at least one ventilationslot for in flow, the side surfaces having at least one ventilation slotfor in flow and at least one ventilation slot for out flow. Theventilation slots of the side surfaces may be recessed for improvedconvection air flow cooling and to minimize dust collection in thedevice.

According to another aspect, a method of communication between a powerline and a network interface unit includes transmitting and receivingdata between the power line and the network interface unit anddelivering a DC power signal to the network interface unit. Thetransmitting and receiving may be with a power line modem that includesa connector interface for coupling to the network interface unit.Delivering may include coupling the DC power signal to the connectorinterface.

An advantage that the invention provides is the convergence of twototally distinctive types of Ethernet applications into a single devicewhich can further enhance the reach of Ethernet networking bydrastically simplifying the ability to network various types ofequipment that may have differing powering and connectivity needs,Hence, embodiments of the invention can provide for home networking with“smart” appliances being networked seamlessly and efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a transceiver inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of an adjustable DC power circuitof the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A illustrates a front view of an embodiment of an enclosure inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the enclosure of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of another enclosure for in-wallmounting in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates principles of the presentinvention. A transceiver device 100 is shown coupled between power line172 and network interface unit (NIU) 156. The device 100 is connected topower line 172 through AC plug 170. The power line 172 is generallyconfigured to provide home distribution wiring for carrying AC power anddata signals, preferably according to the standard for Ethernet overPower (EoP) as specified by the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. The deviceis connected to the NIU 156 over a power interface device 154 (e.g.,Category 5, 5E or higher grade cabling).

The device 100 includes a power line modem 102 and a power circuit 104.Generally, the power circuit 104 is configured to couple a DC powersignal to the power line modem 102 for delivery to the NIU 156.

The power line modem 102 includes an analog module 106;analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 108A and digital-to-analog converter(DAC) 108B; a HomePlug

MAC/PHY device 114; an Ethernet host interface 116; a PHY interface 118;and media dependent interface (MDI) connector interface 120 (e.g., anRJ-45 connector). The analog module 106 is the power line interfacefront end to the home power line socket 170. The module 106 provides thenecessary isolation and filtering of signals transmitted and receivedover the power line 172. The ADC 108A provides analog-to-digitalconversion of the incoming data flow to the MAC/PHY device 114 whichcomplies with the HomePlug standard. Interfaces are provided forexternal LEDs 110 and. EEPROM 112. Processed data signals output fromthe MAC/PHY device 114 are further processed by the Ethernet hostinterface 116 which, in turn, converts the data signal to an IEEE 802.3compliant Ethernet signal that is terminated at the PHY interface 118and coupled at pin 1 (Tx+) and pin 2 (Tx−) of the RJ-45 jack 120 fortransmission to the attached NIU 156 through the Category 5 or higherrated cabling 154.

Likewise, the incoming data signal from the NIU 156 is received at pin 3(Rx+) and pin 6 (RX−) of the RJ-45 jack 154 and terminated at the PHYinterface 118. This data signal is processed through the Ethernet hostinterface 116 and HomePlug MAC/PHY device 114 and converted from digitalto analog by DAC 108B and sent through the analog module 106 to thepower line interface 172.

There are at present various chip manufacturers that may supply some orall of the circuits as described above to provide a power line modemthat is compliant with the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. Therefore,further details of operation of such a power line modem are not providedas such details can be understood by those skilled in the art.

The power circuit 104 is adapted to deliver DC power to either the PHYinterface 118 (so-called “center tap” powering) or the MD1 connectorinterface 120 (so-called “mid-span” powering), or both, depending on thetype of NIU 156 that is connected to the device 100. The “center tap”and “mid-span” powering approaches are described in further detailherein.

In a PoE device, both the operational power and access power are derivedthrough two separate power supplies. One provides the needed DC voltagesto power the switch/hub logic circuits, typically both 5 VDC and 3 VDC.There is then an additional power supply with much higher power loadingcapability to power the required PoE application for each RJ-45 MDIport, which may vary from four to twenty four ports per switch/hubdevice. The IEEE 802.3af standard requires a 48 VDC supply with a rangeof −10% to +20% with continuous maximum load of 350 mA (minimum of 15.4watts continuous power) that is required from. the Data TerminalEquipment Power Sourcing Equipment (DTE PSE) to be supplied to the PowerDevice (PD) NIU through the Category 5 or higher rated either shieldedor un-shielded twisted pair of cables.

The power as described above can be delivered through two methods toreach the PD NIU depending upon the capabilities of the PD NIU.

One legacy method practiced in the networking industry which is vendorspecific and not necessarily compliant with the IEEE 802.3af standardcalls for “mid-span” power sourcing equipment. In this approach, thepower is injected by an external independent DC power supply to providepower through an intermediate power injection interface, which “patches”the power into the “unused” pins of the RJ-45 connector. The +VDC isconnected to pin 4 and pin 7 and the −VDC is connected to pin 5 and pin8. The supplied DC power can then be retracted through use of a “PowerRetraction Interface” device in proximity to the NIU.

An alternative to “mid-span” power sourcing injection uses the samewiring to combine the power and data onto the same pair of shielded orunshielded twisted pairs. Rather than injecting the power onto the“unused” pairs of wires as described above, the power is injected ontothe “center tap” of the PHY interface transformers, hence providing a“phantom” DC circuit riding on the data pair of cabling. In this case,the +VDC is connected to the center tap of the +Tx and −Tx pair with pinassociation 1 and 2 respectively. The −VDC is connected to the centertap of the +Rx and −Rx pair with the pin association 3 and 6respectively. This power can then be retracted internally through the“Power Splitting Circuitry” to power the network ready ancillary NIUequipments internally.

The power circuit 104 includes a primary DC power supply 122 thatdelivers 48 VDC to a secondary DC power supply 126 and a current loadsensing switch 134 through a reset switch 124. The secondary DC powersupply provides lower level operational voltages (e.g., 5 VDC, 3 VDC)for operating the circuitry of device 100. Operation of the reset switchallows for a cold start of the device 100.

The 48 VDC power signal output from the primary DC power supply 122 isswitched and regulated through the current load sensing switch 134 to aload path control circuit 132. The load path control circuit 132determines whether the power signal is to be routed to the PHY interface118 or to the MDI connector interface 120. The load path determinationis based on a discovery signal DISC received from discovery circuit 130.The discovery circuit checks which type NIU is attached to determinewhether or not the NIU is IEEE 802.3af compatible. An LED 128 isprovided to indicate the corresponding compatibility status.

The IEEE 802.3af standard specifies means to power the PD NIU from DTEPSE through identifying such attached device through the “PD detectionsignature” techniques with a “Discovery” circuit. A “test voltage” isapplied to determine the PD NIU's load characteristic. This detected PDsignature by the DTE PSE will then determine whether or not theappropriate amount of power will be provided.

The discovery circuit 130 can be configured to directly or indirectlycontrol both the “inrush” surge current limiting, to protect with the“overload/short” protections, and to disconnect the power in the eventof either a non-compatible PD device is detected or remove in order toprevent any possible equipment damages. The IEEE 802.3af Discovery isspecified as a means of characteristic impedance sensing capability:defined nominally as 25k (19k to 26.5k) with parallel capacitance ofless than 0.1 microfarad (uf) in a voltage range from 2.8V to 10V.

A power overload sensing logic circuit 136 that may reside with the loadpath control circuit 132 monitors and manages power loading through thecontrol circuit 132 and can disable the current loading sensing switch134 via control line 137 in the event of a detected overload condition.

In the event the NIU is identified by the discovery circuit 130 as IEEE802.3af center tap PRY compatible, the power is switched by load pathcontrol circuit 132 to the mid-tap of the transformers of the PRYinterface 118 and LED 128 may be activated.

In the event a mid-span NIU that is IEEE 802.3af compatible isdiscovered by the discovery circuit 130, the power is switched by loadpath control circuit 132 to a mid-span configuration for power insertionto pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 of MDI connector interface 120 and the LED 128may be activated accordingly. However, in the event that the NIU isdiscovered to be non-compatible with IEEE802.3af, the load path controlcircuit 132 may still supply power for mid-span application but thepower loading is monitored and managed very carefully through the poweroverload sensor 136. The power overload/disconnect sensor 136 eitherenables or disables the current loading sensing switch 134 accordinglyand the LED 128 is activated or deactivated accordingly.

The power circuit 104 may further include an adjustable DC outputcircuit 138 to provide a selectable output voltage for mid-spanapplications. A selectable output voltage from the adjustable DC outputcircuit allows legacy but not necessarily IEEE802.3af compatibleancillary equipment to be powered. This power is available through theload path control circuit 132. Since there are legacy ancillaryequipments available in the market by manufacturers who have selectedvarious means of DC voltages for powering, the adjustable DC outputcircuit may be useful for such applications. An externally selectableswitch 140 selects the various output DC voltages. This DC outputconnects to a DC power jack 139 for external connection on line 157 incases in which the NIU comprises legacy equipment. For example, a legacy(non-IEEE 802.3af compatible) device may be a LAN-ready video camerathat has separate RJ-45 and DC power jacks. In addition, the DC outputalso connects to RJ-45 MDI connector interface 120 through mid-spanmeans of power delivery. Several LEDs 142 may be included to indicatethe appropriate voltages selected and available at the DC jack 139 andthe RJ-45 MDI connector interface 120. A diagram of the adjustable DCpower circuit is illustrated in FIG. 2, which includes a selectableswitch 140 for selecting voltage levels 5V, 12V, 24V, and 44V. A voltageregulator 141 (e.g., three pin bias type) operates with a referenceinput voltage to provide an output voltage determined by the selectedZener diode 140A.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in the event other than the IEEE 802.3afmid-span powering is selected, the discovery circuit 130 may sense thenon-compatibility with IEEE 802.3af and the load path control circuit132 disables power to the center-tap of PHY interface 118 and reroutespower to adjustable DC output circuit 138.

In other embodiments, an AC bypass control circuit 146 with externalselectable switch 148 may be included to allow raw AC power to bebypassed to the an AC power outlet or plug 152. The AC poweravailability to the plug 152 may be indicated by the LED indicator 144or gas fired light indicator 150.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an embodiment of an enclosure 200 isillustrated. The enclosure may be configured to house the power linemodem 102, the power circuit 104 and the AC bypass circuitry (FIG. 1).FIG. 3A illustrates a front view of the enclosure. LED indicator areas201, 203 and 205 are shown. DC jack 139 and RJ-45 connector may berecessed into the side and bottom, respectively, of the enclosure. Aseries of ventilation slots 211 are recessed into the front surface 204.While the ventilation slots are shown formed in a chevron-like shape, itshould be understood that other arrangements, e.g., U-shaped, can beused.

FIG. 3B illustrates a sectional view of the enclosure 200 taken alongline B-B of FIG. 3A. The enclosure includes top surface 202, frontsurface 204, back surface 206 and bottom surface 208. A printed circuitboard 226 that may include the power line modem and power circuitry(FIG. 1) is shown vertically mounted within the enclosure 200 tomounting posts 224, 225. Ventilation slots 214, 216 recessed into thefront and back surfaces 204, 206 respectively, and slots 218, 220 onbottom surface 208 provide for air “in” flow. Likewise, ventilationslots 210, 212 recessed into the side surfaces 204, 206 respectively,provide air “out” flow. Thus, an air flow 230, 232 of the convectiontype can be provided through the enclosure 200. This ventilationconfiguration provides for efficient air flow while minimizing theintake of dust into the enclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an in-wall enclosure 300 for usewith structural premises wiring. A face plate 302 is detachablymountable to housing 304. The face plate 302 includes openings 306, 308,310, 312, 314 for receiving corresponding AC plug 316, LED indicators318, switch 320, indicator 321, and RJ-45 receptacle 322 when mounted tofront face 324 of housing 304. The enclosure 300 further includes an ACterminal 326 for connection to AC power.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

1. A transceiver device comprising: a power line modem for transmittingand receiving data signals between an AC power line and a networkinterface unit, the power line modem including a connector interface forcoupling to the network interface unit; and a power circuit adapted todeliver a DC power signal to the network interface unit.
 2. Thetransceiver of claim 1 wherein the connector interface is an RJ-45connector and the DC power signal is coupled to non-data pins of theRJ-45 connector.
 3. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the power linemodem includes a PHY interface in communication with the connectorinterface for coupling to the network interface unit and wherein thepower circuit is coupled to the PHY interface.
 4. The transceiver ofclaim 3 wherein the PHY interface includes a transmit data transformerthat communicates transmit data with transmit data pins of the connectorinterface and a receive data transformer that communicates receive datawith receive data pins of the connector interface, and wherein one legof the DC power signal is coupled to a center tap of the transmittransformer and another leg of the DC power signal is coupled to acenter tap of the receive transformer to provide a phantom DC circuitover the transmit and receive data pins.
 5. The transceiver of claim 3wherein the power circuit includes: a primary DC power supply providinga 48 VDC supply signal; a discovery circuit coupled across the PHYinterface and adapted to determine a type of network interface unitattached thereto; a load path control circuit adapted to switch the 48VDC supply signal to provide the DC power signal either to the PHYinterface or to the connector interface based on the determined type. 6.The transceiver of claim 5 wherein the power circuit further includes: acurrent loading sensing switch coupled between the DC power supply andthe load path control circuit; and a power overloading sensor logiccircuit adapted to monitor power load through the load path controlcircuit and further adapted to disable the current loading sensingswitch upon detecting a power overload.
 7. The transceiver of claim 5wherein the power circuit further includes: an adjustable DC outputcircuit coupled between the load path control circuit and the connectorinterface and having a selectable switch for selecting a DC outputvoltage for power delivery to the connector interface.
 8. Thetransceiver of claim 7 wherein the power circuit further includes: a DCoutlet coupled to the output of the adjustable DC output circuit.
 9. Thetransceiver of claim 5 wherein the power circuit further includes: asecondary DC power supply coupled to the primary DC power supply andadapted to convert the 48 VDC supply signal to secondary DC powersignals.
 10. The transceiver of claim 9 wherein the power circuitfurther includes: a reset switch coupled between the primary DC powersupply and the secondary DC power supply for providing reset of power tothe transceiver.
 11. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the powercircuit includes: an adjustable DC output circuit having a selectableswitch for selecting a DC output voltage for power delivery to thenetwork interface unit.
 12. The transceiver of claim 1 furthercomprising an AC bypass control circuit coupled to the power line and anAC outlet, the bypass control circuit having a selectable switch whichin one position enables AC power to the AC outlet and in anotherposition disables AC power to the AC outlet.
 13. A method comprising:transmitting and receiving data signals between an AC power line and anetwork interface unit, the data signals coupled to the networkinterface unit through a connector interface; and delivering a DC powersignal to the network interface unit over the connector interface. 14.The method of claim 13 wherein the connector interface is an RJ-45connector and the DC power signal is coupled to non-data pins of theRJ-45 connector.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein transmitting andreceiving is with a power line modem that includes a PHY interface incommunication with the connector interface for coupling to the networkinterface unit and wherein delivering includes coupling the DC powersignal to the PHY interface.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the PHYinterface includes a transmit data transformer that communicatestransmit data with transmit data pins of the connector interface and areceive data transformer that communicates receive data with receivedata pins of the connector interface, and wherein one leg of the DCpower signal is coupled to a center tap of the transmit transformer andanother leg of the DC power signal is coupled to a center tap of thereceive transformer to provide a phantom DC circuit over the transmitand receive data pins.
 17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:coupling a discovery circuit across the PHY interface to deter mine atype of network interface unit attached thereto; and switching the DCpower signal either to the PHY interface or to the connector interfacebased on the determined type.